A joined-up and accessible network of charging stations is essential if Europeans are to benefit from the huge strides in e-mobility technologies.
Firms including Renault-Nissan and Tesla say EU member states should accelerate their EV infrastructure plans.
The call comes from an alliance of over 20 diverse European transport, electric vehicle and charging firms, which says that EU Member States must publish their plans for an e-mobility infrastructure to make clean electricity the dominant power source for transport.
Under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive 2014, member states were required to submit their plans for supporting charging infrastructure by the end of 2016 – but around half of them still have not done so.
As well as calling for the timely implementation of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive, the Platform for Electro-Mobility is also pressing member states to deploy more charging stations and workplace charging solutions, and to allow for more flexibility on connector requirements for all car-charging stations to promote usage.
The Platform, which includes members such as Renault-Nissan and charging firm ABB as well as environmental NGO Transport & Environment, also says that simplifying permitting procedures and coordinating financial incentives across Europe would help open up the EV market and calls for electrified public and private transport modes (from metros to e-bikes) to be fully integrated into a low carbon energy system.
It added that the next steps will be to integrate, for example, rail and road-based electric vehicles with smart grids based on innovative technologies, standards and advanced market rules.
Nicolas Erb, chair of the Platform on Electro-mobility, said: “Europe has a huge opportunity to win on so many fronts with e-mobility. For a start, we’ll recover the €1 billion or so a day Europe currently spends on high-polluting oil; we’ll hugely increase access to mobility; we’ll create high-quality jobs and we’ll save countless lives by cutting air pollution.
“E-mobility may be a quiet revolution but it’s a crucial one. Besides metros and tramways, there are now over two million electric vehicles on the world’s roads – so we are at a tipping point – but we need to change up a gear to really make it happen.”
Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for nearly 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.
Natalie edits all the Fleet World websites and newsletters, and loves to hear about any latest industry news - or gossip.
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